'This will give Hamilton even more satisfaction if he wins and beats Verstappen'

Damon Hill thinks that Lewis Hamilton is taking himself to the next level by challenging Max Verstappen in 2021. The 1996 world champion thinks this challenge is exactly what Hamilton needed.

Hamilton finally has a challenger

Hill is full of praise for his fellow countryman Hamilton, who achieved his hundredth pole position in Spain. Verstappen helps Hamilton to perform even better: "He needed this, for a long time he needed someone to come to him", speaks Hill at the F1 Nation podcast.

"It's like Goliath, beating himself on the chest, waiting 'asking himself who's going to take me on?'", Hill continued. "The great champions need someone they can spar with." According to Hill, Verstappen has had a lot of interest and is widely praised, making him the ideal challenger to Hamilton.

Hamilton and Verstappen fight all year

Hill's fellow analyst at Sky F1 Jenson Button revealed that Verstappen is more of a natural. "All these things just give Lewis more satisfaction if he prevails when he wins and beats Max. I think Lewis hasn't been on tickover for a long time and it's been too easy," said Hill.

"This year Max has basically taken a challenge, but Lewis is also showing that it's not as easy as it looks," Hill concludes. Verstappen has been in full pursuit of Hamilton. The Dutchman has a gap of fourteen points in the standings.